Systems and methods for reheat control of an HVAC system

{
  "publication_number": "US11768020B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Systems and methods for reheat control of an HVAC system",
  "abstract": "A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) unit includes a first sensor disposed adjacent to an inlet of an evaporator configured to receive an airflow. The HVAC unit includes a second sensor disposed adjacent to an outlet of a reheat coil positioned downstream of the evaporator and configured to expel the airflow. The HVAC unit also includes a controller configured to regulate operation of a modulating reheat valve to adjust flow of a working fluid in thermal communication with the airflow to control a difference between a measurement of the first sensor and a measurement of the second sensor.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising a controller configured to: receive, from a first sensor, first feedback indicative of a first temperature of an air flow received by the HVAC system as return air; receive, from a second sensor, second feedback indicative of a second temperature of the air flow output by the HVAC system as supply air; and control a modulating reheat valve of the HVAC system to adjust flow of a working fluid to a reheat coil in thermal communication with the air flow, wherein, to control the modulating reheat valve, the controller is configured to: instruct the modulating reheat valve to increase a flow rate of the working fluid to the reheat coil in response to a first determination that the second temperature is below the first temperature by a non-zero threshold amount; or instruct the modulating reheat valve to decrease the flow rate of the working fluid to the reheat coil in response to a second determination that the second temperature is above the first temperature by the non-zero threshold amount; or both.",
    "2. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the modulating reheat valve to decrease a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature.",
    "3. The HVAC system of claim 1, comprising the first sensor, wherein the HVAC system comprises ductwork configured to direct the air flow received by the HVAC system as the return air into an enclosure of the HVAC system, wherein the first sensor is disposed within the ductwork or within the enclosure of the HVAC system.",
    "4. The HVAC system of claim 3, comprising an evaporator disposed within the enclosure and configured to receive the return air, wherein the first sensor is disposed adjacent to an inlet of the evaporator.",
    "5. The HVAC system of claim 4, comprising the reheat coil and the second sensor, wherein the reheat coil is disposed downstream of the evaporator relative to flow of the return air through the enclosure, and wherein the second sensor is disposed adjacent to an outlet of the reheat coil.",
    "6. The HVAC system of claim 1, comprising the modulating reheat valve, wherein the modulating reheat valve is configured to distribute flow of the working fluid between the reheat coil and a condenser of the HVAC system.",
    "7. The HVAC system of claim 6, wherein the modulating reheat valve is configured to transition between a plurality of discrete positions to adjust distribution of the flow of the working fluid between the reheat coil and the condenser.",
    "8. The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of discrete positions corresponds to five or more discrete positions of the modulating reheat valve.",
    "9. The HVAC system of claim 1, comprising an evaporator configured to receive the return air and comprising the reheat coil, wherein, in response to a third determination that a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature is less than or equal to the non-zero threshold amount, the controller is configured to determine whether a humidity level of the supply air is above or below a target humidity level by an additional threshold amount.",
    "10. The HVAC system of claim 9, wherein, in response to a fourth determination that the humidity level of the supply air is above the target humidity level by the additional threshold amount, the controller is configured to adjust a valve assembly of the HVAC system to increase flow of the working fluid from the reheat coil to a condenser of the HVAC system.",
    "11. The HVAC system of claim 10, wherein, in response to a fifth determination that the humidity level of the supply air is below the target humidity level by the additional threshold amount, the controller is configured to adjust the valve assembly to decrease flow of the working fluid from the reheat coil to the condenser.",
    "12. A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising: an enclosure defining an air flow path; an evaporator and a reheat coil disposed within the air flow path, wherein the evaporator and the reheat coil are each configured to receive a working fluid of a vapor compression system; a first sensor positioned upstream of the evaporator along the air flow path; a second sensor positioned downstream of the reheat coil along the air flow path; a modulating reheat valve configured to transition between a plurality of discrete positions, wherein the modulating reheat valve is configured to distribute the working fluid to the reheat coil and to a condenser of the HVAC unit in parallel in each discrete position of the plurality of discrete positions; and a controller configured to adjust the modulating reheat valve between the plurality of discrete positions to control a difference between a first measurement provided by the first sensor and a second measurement provided by the second sensor.",
    "13. The HVAC unit of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the modulating reheat valve to increase a flow rate of the working fluid to the reheat coil in response to a determination that the second measurement provided by the second sensor is below the first measurement provided by the first sensor by a non-zero threshold amount.",
    "14. The HVAC unit of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the modulating reheat valve to decrease a flow rate of the working fluid to the reheat coil in response to a determination that the second measurement provided by the second sensor is above the first measurement provided by the first sensor by a non-zero threshold amount.",
    "15. The HVAC unit of claim 12, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are positioned within an interior of the enclosure.",
    "16. The HVAC unit of claim 12, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are dry bulb temperature sensors.",
    "17. A control system of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, wherein the control system comprises a controller configured to: receive, from a first sensor, first feedback indicative of a first temperature of return air received by the HVAC system; receive, from a second sensor, second feedback indicative of a second temperature of supply air discharged by the HVAC system; and instruct a modulating reheat valve to increase a flow rate of a working fluid to a reheat coil in fluid communication with the return air in response to a determination that the second temperature is below the first temperature by a non-zero threshold amount.",
    "18. The control system of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the modulating reheat valve to decrease the flow rate of the working fluid to the reheat coil in response to a second determination that the second temperature is above the first temperature by the non-zero threshold amount.",
    "19. The control system of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to control the modulating reheat valve to decrease a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature, such that the difference is below the non-zero threshold amount."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.\n\nA heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system may be used to thermally regulate an environment, such as a space within a building, home, or other structure. The HVAC system generally includes a vapor compression system that includes heat exchangers, such as a condenser and an evaporator, which transfer thermal energy between the HVAC system and the environment. In some cases, the HVAC system also includes a reheat coil, which, together with the evaporator, is positioned along an air flow path of the HVAC system. The evaporator and the reheat coil may operate concurrently to facilitate dehumidification of an air flow traveling along the air flow path and entering a building serviced by the HVAC system. Unfortunately, conventional HVAC systems may be unable to efficiently control a rate of heat transfer between the evaporator, the reheat coil, and the air flow, thereby rendering the HVAC systems inadequate to efficiently control a temperature of dehumidified air being discharged from the HVAC systems.",
  "cpc": [
    "F25B 41/20",
    "F24F 11/84",
    "F24F 2110/10",
    "F24F 3/0525",
    "F24F 3/153",
    "F25B 2400/0403",
    "F25B 25/005",
    "F25B 2600/25",
    "F25B 2600/2501",
    "F25B 2700/00",
    "F25B 40/06",
    "F25B 6/02"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F24F 3/052",
    "F24F 3/153",
    "F25B 41/20",
    "F24F 11/84"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "John T. Knight",
    "Stephen B. Pickle",
    "Norman J. Blanton",
    "Kerry L Shumway"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-08-22",
  "publication_date": "2023-09-26",
  "grant_date": "2023-09-26",
  "priority_date": "2019-05-22",
  "application_number": "US-202217892956-A",
  "family_id": "73456655",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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}